We surveyed small businesses in Los Angeles and nationally to understand practices and supports for employee upskilling. 

To provide further context and insight into small business’ practices and challenges with respect to upskilling, we conducted two anonymous Los Angeles focus groups with business leaders, as well as three one-on-one interviews with Key Respondents knowledgeable of small business concerns and practices. Survey results and focus group feedback are presented in the research brief below. 

First 5 LA and the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) Workgroup established a multi-year goal of adopting a common KRA that can aggregate data on school readiness across L.A. County. As a first step to advancing this goal, in the fall of 2015, Children Now and First 5 LA conducted a survey of L.A. County’s 80 school districts. To further inform the discussion of a common KRA, the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a complementary Preschool Assessment Survey with information on assessments of preschoolers by a wide range of preschool providers in L.A. County.  

The findings in this report, combined with those of the District Survey, aim to provide guidance to L.A. County stakeholders as we develop an implementation strategy and work to select a common KRA tool.